Out of the thousands of islands that make up the Caribbean, few more than a dozen are destinations that cater for cruise ships.
While the scorching sunshine, azure sea, and white sand beaches can be found at all of the Caribbean islands, you might be surprised to know that each island has its own distinct culture and range of activities to enjoy.
Some are quiet and isolated, and others bustling and energetic. Some islands are best for scuba diving, while others have excellent golf courses. Depending on what you are interested in, you can probably find a Caribbean island that offers you just what you are looking for. Then all you have to do is make sure you get a ticket for cruise liner that stops off there!
Beach Life
You will be hard pushed to find a Caribbean island that doesn’t have a gorgeous beach to lie on, but some are certainly better than others.
Some islands have just got that special something when it comes to picture perfect beaches, so if you want to spend your days on the island lying on the sand and taking dips in the clear blue sea try and get yourself to one of these. Martinique offers has beautiful and quiet beaches for those of you that go that extra mile on a day trip.
Grenada is another island with small pristine beaches that you will not want to leave. If something a bit livelier and convenient is what you are after, then the beaches at Aruba might be what you are looking for.
Big luxury resorts line the sides of the many beaches on the island, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from when you need a break from the sun. Puerto Rico offers a similar experience, with big beach resorts offering all sorts of different exciting activities to enjoy in the water.
Putters Delight
If a round of Golf is your idea of a perfect day out, then you can choose from some excellent world class golf course on a few of the Caribbean islands. The Dominican Republic has to be up there as the most popular Caribbean destination for golfing, with 26 different courses to choose from.
To name just a few, the Corales Golf Course at Punta Cana has been open since 2010, and is already a firm favorite on the island. 6 of the holes are on cliffs overlooking the ocean, making for great views while driving that ball to the green.
The Teeth of the Dog course at Casa de Campo is often cited as the best course on the island, and the Punta Espada course at Cap Cana is hot on its heels, being an official Jack Nicklaus course. If you can’t make it to the Dominican Republic, you will find great golf courses on Barbados, although they can be a little expensive, and also Jamaica has many courses to choose from too.
Underwater Explorers
If there is one activity everyone should try while in the Caribbean, it is scuba diving. There are so many world-class diving sites scattering among the islands it really is tough to know which the best are.
The clear water and abundance of colorful tropical marine life teeming under the surface make scuba diving one of the must-do activities in the Caribbean. Bonaire is regarded by some as the best island for scuba diving in the Caribbean, and some experts rate it as one of the best diving destinations in the world.
The British Virgin Islands are home to one of the best diving shipwrecks in the world, the RMS Rhone, and other great diving destinations include the Cayman Islands, St, Lucia, and the tiny island of Saba.
Party Animals
If nightlife is what you are looking for from your Caribbean island destination, then there are good and bad. All the islands offer something to do after dark, but some are much better than others. To party long into the night, and even the next morning, head to St.Maarten for pumping beachfront clubs, and beach parties when the clubs close.
There are also great casinos on the island for all you high rollers. Trinidad is also a great island to drink and dance the night away, and in Jamaica, Montenegro Bay and Negril are well-known for being nightlife hotspots. As for places not to go, it is best avoid places like Montserrat, St. Kits, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and they don’t offer much for the dedicated party goers.
There’s More!
You’ll be happy to know that there is more to the Caribbean than beaches, golf, scuba diving, and partying, but hopefully you will be thinking about how to get the most out of your Caribbean adventure. There really is something for everyone on these idyllic islands; all you have to do is find it!
